'There's Hope': Muskogee Woman Shares Story Of Forgiveness After Husband's Murder

A Muskogee woman is a living example of showing forgiveness, after extending grace to the man convicted of murdering her husband in front of her children.

Trent Scoggins was shot 10 times by his neighbor, Robert Rainford, two years ago.

Rhonda Scoggins said it still hurts more than anyone will ever know, but she doesn't hate Rainford. She said his possible life sentence is nothing to celebrate.

Rhonda said her heart hurts for Rainford's mother and daughter, and she prays for them. But she also believes he isn't safe and it's better for everyone if he's behind bars.

Even though Trent is gone, his wife Rhonda and three boys still turn up the music he wrote, so they can feel close to him.

“He was really good at making songs," said Ollie.

“He was really good at editing music and stuff like making it," said Jonah Rose.

They said Trent had a heart for helping people.

“He was a very good father. Like he played with us a lot and stuff," said Jonah Rose.

“He knew how to like build stuff. He knew how to make music. Cook food," said Jacob Beezley.

Police said on December 12, 2021, Trent's neighbor, Robert Rainford, knocked on Trent's back door and shot him 10 times for no apparent reason.

He said it was because of drugs, but the jury found him guilty.

Rhonda and 12-year-old Jacob testified. She said listening to the body camera video of when officers arrive was horrifying.

“I could hear myself screaming and it was reliving it and it was really, really hard and also feeling like I couldn’t protect my kids that day,” recalled Rhonda.

But Rhonda said Trent taught her you don’t have to hate even when it hurts.

“Anger, hate, all that is a cancer, and it will eat away at you and destroy you and I don't want that. I want to show people that even in the worst times you can be happy, you can move on. There’s hope," said Rhonda.

She's found peace in forgiveness.

“I want happy. I want music. I want screaming lyrics to the top of my lungs, and I want that for my kids too," said Rhonda.

Rhonda met Rainford's daughter, who hugged Rhonda and kept saying she was sorry. Rhonda told the girl, 'it’s not your fault and I’ve never blamed you.'